Kremlin says updated version of Russia’s nuclear doctrine to be formalized

By Burc Eruygur

ISTANBUL (AA) - The Kremlin on Sunday said the updated version of Russia’s nuclear doctrine has been prepared and will be formalized.

“The adjustments have been prepared, now it will be formalized. The main principles, the main approaches have been outlined,” spokesman Dmitry Peskov said in an interview with journalist Pavel Zarubin, a part of which was shared on his Telegram.

Peskov said new international developments have “made it necessary” to make adjustments in the country’s nuclear doctrine.

He said the developments include growing tensions around Russia’s borders, particularly how “nuclear powers began to participate in the conflict in Ukraine” on Kyiv’s side.​​​​​​​

“They (Russia’s military) are the ones recording the direct involvement of the countries of the collective West in the conflict around Ukraine, and they will not weaken their attention,” he added.

President Vladimir Putin on Wednesday revealed proposed changes to Russia's 2020 nuclear doctrine, which allowed use of nuclear weapons in case of nuclear attack or a conventional attack that threatened the state's existence.

The changes include treating any aggression against Russia by non-nuclear states, if supported by nuclear powers, as a "joint attack."